amNewYork yesterday published an op-ed from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
The full op-ed is below:
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Senator Jeremy A. Cooney, and Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages today urged Governor Kathy Hochul to sign legislation that passed both houses at the end of session enhancing transparency and accountability for state contracts awarded during a state of emergency, such as those that were not made transparent to the public during the COVID pandemic, as well as those contracts that are otherwise exempted from the Comptroller’s review.
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced a tentative schedule for the planned bond sales for New York state, New York City and their major public authorities during the months of June and July of 2023.
The planned sales of $6.06 billion include $2.64 billion of new money and $3.42 billion of refundings and reofferings as follows:
The New York State Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Asset Management and Financial Institution Strategy (Chapter 171, Laws of 2010) was enacted to codify and replicate best practices for providing MWBEs that are asset managers, investment banks and financial and professional service providers with the opportunity to offer services to fiduciary-controlled entities established by New York State law.
For State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2022-23, agencies paid vendors $4,087,280 in interest, an increase of $3,081,904 (approximately 307 percent) from SFY 2021-22.
Of the total contracts reported by State agencies in 2022, 58 percent were processed after their start or renewal dates. This represents no change from 2021.
The state’s Thruway Authority has to do a better job of identifying, billing, and collecting tolls and related fees, including $276.3 million it has a collection agency seeking as of March 2023, according to a new audit from State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
"This audit has identified ways in which the Thruway can improve its collection of tolls and fees,” DiNapoli said. “Based on the Authority’s response, I’m hopeful action will be taken to implement our recommendations to maximize revenue for the Thruway.”
The number of New Yorkers earning less than $20,000 with a broadband subscription rose from 64% to 76% between 2019 and 2021 as a result of two federal programs created to address disparities in access to high-speed internet. More than 1.3 million New York households are receiving affordable broadband subscriptions with federal support. In total, more than 90% of all New York households had access to broadband in 2021, up from 86% in 2019.
The number of New Yorkers earning less than $20,000 with a broadband subscription rose from 64% to 76% between 2019 and 2021 thanks in large part to two federal programs created to address disparities in access to high-speed internet. More than 1.3 million New York households are receiving affordable broadband subscriptions with federal support, according to a new analysis released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
In April, the Office of the State Comptroller approved 1,580 contracts for state agencies and public authorities valued at $1.3 billion and approved nearly 4.2 million payments worth nearly $13.7 billion. The office rejected 115 contracts and related transactions valued at $255.5 million and nearly 6,200 payments valued at nearly $28.2 million, primarily for mistakes, insufficient support for charges, and improper payments. More information on these contracts and payments is available at Open Book New York.
